WASHINGTON (Jan. 13, 2012) -- The Humane Society Legislative Fund, the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare, announced its endorsement of U.S. Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., for the 13th Congressional District primary in Michigan. Citing his effective leadership and career-long advocacy on animal protection policies, the Humane Society Legislative Fund urges primary voters to support Conyers.

“John Conyers has demonstrated strong leadership on important policies to protect horses, end animal fighting and stamp out videos torturing animals,” said Michael Markarian, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “He has stood up for the values of kindness and compassion and we urge Michigan primary voters to support Conyers.”

Conyers has been a leading champion for animal protection while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, and has helped enact several new federal policies to stop animal cruelty and abuse. During his career in Congress, he has:

Received the 2008 Humane Representative of the Year.

Sponsored the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act to prohibit the long-distance transport (including export) of American horses for slaughter for human consumption in other countries where horse meat is considered a delicacy.

Sponsored the Animal Cruelty Statistics Act to require the collection of statistics on animal cruelty to prioritize law enforcement resources for addressing animal abuse.

As chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, led the passage of the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act, which passed in 2010 and banned commerce in videos showing the intentional torture of puppies, kittens and other live animals for the sexual titillation of viewers.

As chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, led the passage of the Animal Fighting Enforcement Prohibition Act, which was signed into law in 2007 and strengthened the penalties for illegal dogfighting and cockfighting, making it a felony to transport animals across state lines for these gruesome and barbaric fights.

Co-sponsored the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act, H.R. 835, to crack down on abusive “puppy mills” in the United States, where breeding dogs are often stacked in wire cages for years to produce litter after litter, without exercise, veterinary care, socialization or human companionship.

Co-sponsored the Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act, H.R. 1513, to phase out use of chimpanzees in invasive research, retire the approximately 500 federally-owned chimpanzees to sanctuary, and save tens of millions of tax dollars from warehousing chimps in federally-funded laboratories.

Co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, H.R. 2492, to establish misdemeanor penalties for knowingly attending an organized dogfight or cockfight, and felony penalties for taking a minor to such a fight.

HSLF is a nonpartisan organization that evaluates candidates based only on a single criterion: where they stand on animal welfare. HSLF does not judge candidates based on party affiliation or any other issue.

The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of The Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at animalsandpolitics.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund.